Area & Arabic Studies Program in Rabat, Moroccowith AMIDEAST

Morocco is a gateway to Africa and the Arab world. A meeting point for civilizations and continents situated on the northwest tip of Africa, contemporary Morocco, with its nearly 35 million people, is a fusion of Arab, European, and African cultural influences.

Students participating in the AMIDEASTArea and Arabic Language Studies Program in Morocco have the opportunity to experience life in a Muslim country while exploring the distinct society and traditions of the Maghreb. Whether enjoying a croissant and mint tea at a café, visiting Amazigh (Berber) villages, or wandering through the medinas and their souqs, each experience in Morocco offers rich insight into its remarkable culture. With its striking topography, vibrant culture, and distinctive history, Morocco is an ideal destination for cross-cultural interchange and learning.

Rabat is one of Morocco’s “imperial cities,” as well as its political capital. Situated at the confluence of the Bou Regreg River and Atlantic Ocean, Rabat is a relaxed yet stately metropolis of 1.7 million people. Its medina (old city) is easy to navigate and includes housing as well as shops and traditional craftsmen plying their trades. The modern city, dating to the early 20th century, has wide, pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined boulevards and many green spaces, and houses the political and administrative offices of Morocco’s government as well as its parliament, supreme court, and Royal Palace.

Students enroll in Arabic studies and two or three other elective courses from offerings in a variety of disciplines taught in English including political science, religion, sociology, women's studies, history, and Amazigh studies.

All courses are taught exclusively for AMIDEAST by highly educated, English-speaking Moroccan professors.

Students will attend their classes both at AMIDEAST’s facilities in the Agdal area of the city and in the buildings of their partner institution, the College of Letters and Humanities at Mohammed V University – Agdal.

Students enrolled in the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Rabat, Morocco have a choice of living arrangements and meal plans:

Living with a Moroccan family: students who select this option will live with a Moroccan family that has been carefully screened by AMIDEAST Morocco from a database of qualified applicants. Students usually are placed with a roommate from the AMIDEAST program into families who have previous experience hosting American students through AMIDEAST. Few, if any, families speak English. Most host family members speak Arabic as a first language and also speak French; a small number of family members also speak Spanish or Amazigh (Berber) as well.

Host families will provide all meals for students who choose this option.

Living in a student residence with a Moroccan roommate: students who select this option will live in a private Moroccan student residence hall that opened in 2007. Each double room has a private bathroom and toilet, small refrigerator and cooking facilities and internet access. There are separate buildings for male and female students and strict gender segregation is enforced. The residence hall is located in the university quarter of the city and students living there should expect to take public transportation to and from classes.

A student cafeteria is located across the street and students may eat there, prepare their own meals in their rooms, or eat in restaurants.

Please note that the availability of residence hall rooms is limited; therefore, AMIDEAST cannot guarantee that students who select this option can be placed there. Students who are not assigned a residence hall room will be placed with host families.

Submit your application materials to CUAbroad in 111 McMahon Hall. Applications are due on the due date. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Your application package must include:
General Application Materials
These are the materials that CUAbroad requires any student attending any summer or semester program to submit. For details, please click on the How to Apply guidelines link.

Program-Specific Application Materials
These are the additional application materials CUAbroad requires from students specifically applying for this program. They are: